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The Samajwadi Party (SP) is set to contest 20 seats in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, marking a significant escalation in their political strategy. This decision comes amidst a growing tension between the SP and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP. The SP's move is a direct response to the MVA's perceived delay in finalizing seat allocations for the upcoming polls.
The SP leadership, particularly party chief Akhilesh Yadav, has expressed dissatisfaction with the MVA's lack of action on their request for five seats. SP state president Abu Azmi highlighted the party's disappointment, stating that Yadav instructed them to contest seats where they have a strong chance of winning. Azmi further asserted that if the MVA continues to disregard their demands, they will be held accountable for any potential division in the secular vote across these constituencies.
The SP has already distributed nomination forms to candidates in five key seats – Dhule City, Malegaon Central, Bhiwandi East, Bhiwandi West, and Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar. These seats hold a significant population of minority voters, and the SP believes they can effectively mobilize this voter base. Notably, both Shan-e-Hind Nehal Ahmed, the SP nominee for Malegaon Central, and Irshad Jagirdar, the nominee for Dhule City, have confirmed receiving the nomination forms and are set to file their nominations on October 29th.
Azmi's remarks underscore the SP's frustration with the MVA's prolonged deliberations. He pointed out that unlike the Congress, which seeks central leadership approval before announcing its candidates, the SP is unwilling to wait any longer as the elections are rapidly approaching. The SP has even reduced its initial demand from 12 seats to five, showcasing their commitment to participating in the coalition.
However, the MVA is facing its own internal challenges in finalizing seat arrangements. State Congress sources revealed that negotiations are ongoing between the three alliance partners, and several seats remain unresolved. The Congress' ability to accommodate smaller parties like the SP is hampered by the unresolved issues within the MVA and the rigid stance of other alliance partners. This situation is evident in Dhule City, where the Sena (UBT) has already announced their candidate, leaving the Congress with little room to maneuver.
Interestingly, in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav's SP offered only two out of nine seats for the upcoming bypolls, a move that reportedly angered the Congress. This incident highlights the dynamic and evolving political landscape in which the SP operates, navigating the complexities of alliance politics while trying to secure a favorable position in the upcoming elections.
Source: Samajwadi Party: Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party to Contest 20 Seats Amid Seat-Sharing Turmoil